The first-ever male member of the Abby Lee Dance Company Elite Competition Team--made famous by Lifetime’s Dance Moms--is a force to be reckoned with. Fourteen-year-old Brady Farrar has been perfecting his craft for nearly his entire life, and he has won numerous awards in recognition of his talent. Farrar worked his way up the leaderboard at the prestigious Youth American Grand Prix ballet competition, winning the silver medal in 2015, the gold medal in 2016, the Hope Award in 2017, the junior male bronze medal in 2018. He has performed in many YAGP galas as well, including the 2016 Finals at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, the 2017 Finals in the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center, and the 2017 YAGP México Festival de Danza Córdoba. Farrar also performed at the Masters and Youth Gala at the Apollo Theater in Oregon House, California, where he was honored to dance aside with Bolshoi principal dancers Vladislav Lantratov and Maria Aleksandrova. Farrar--who since then has received the Best Dancer recognition twice at The Dance Awards--is now taking part in his greatest adventure yet as one of the team members on Season 8 of Dance Moms. Get to know the teen as he slows down to share how his career has soared on the show.

When did you first develop your passion for dance?

I fell in love with dance when I took my first class at six years old. I started dancing when my dad was deployed with the Army to Iraq. Dancing always made me happy. When I was eight, we moved to North Carolina, where I attended a Master Class taught by Victor Smalley and Angel Armas. Soon after, Victor convinced my mom to drive down to Miami to work with him at Stars Dance Studio. I loved it so much that we never left!

What is your favorite style of dance and why?

I love all styles, but my favorites are ballet, contemporary and hip-hop! I like ballet because it’s very disciplined. It’s so beautiful when it’s done well, and I strive for that every day. I like contemporary because it’s a way to let go and use my emotions to tell a story. I like hip-hop because it’s the complete opposite of ballet and contemporary. It’s just a good way to groove and have fun!

What was the audition process like for Dance Moms?

First, we had to fill out applications online. Then, we were invited to a live audition. At the live audition, Gianna [Martello, Abby Lee Miller’s assistant] taught us a group routine that we had to learn and perform. During the audition, Abby asked us to perform different skills. At the end of the live audition, we made it past the final cut. Finally, we had to wait until the announcement on Instagram to see if we made the team!

How did you react when you found out you were cast?

I was super excited! I was really looking forward to meeting and dancing with new people, and also to work with Miss Abby! I’ve watched her since I was just starting in dance, and I felt so happy that my dream finally came true!

What is it like being the only male on the team?

It’s really cool that I get to dance with girls all the time! Having a boy on the team opens up more themes and stories that we get to tell. We get to do different partnering, lifts, and tricks. Also, I don’t have to fight for restroom space!

Do you feel any pressure having to live up to the legacy of the previous ALDC elite team?

Yes. There’s a lot of pressure because we will always be compared to those that came before us. We have to live up to the high standards they set and their reputation.

What is your favorite dance you performed on the show and why?

I loved all the dances, but my two favorites are “King of Queens” and “PTSD.” It was very challenging to play the role of Freddy Mercury because he’s so iconic. Everyone already has their impression of how great he was (I’m a big fan of him and Queen!), and it was hard to fulfill those expectations. I think I did a good job in my own way--at least that’s what Miss Abby said. Now, whenever I hear their music, I get a little teary-eyed because it reminds me of that week. I really liked “PTSD” because it had a lot of personal meaning to my family. My dad was in the Army, and we know people struggling with PTSD. I was honored to have been given the opportunity to represent members of the armed forces.

Any memorable stage mishaps from Dance Moms you can share?

When we performed the group dance “The Bermuda Triangle,” we danced in water. It was very slippery and felt like we were dancing on ice. No one had any bad falls, but we all kind of slipped once or twice. We were all very nervous because we had never danced in water and only had a short time to practice.

What is your favorite part about working with Abby?

Her tough love. She always gives you the right corrections. Sometimes they can be very direct, but it’s what you need to hear, and you know that she only wants you to get better.